The St. Catharine’s Cycling Club will host the 14th Annual Niagara Classic O-Cup Road Race, which takes place in the charming surrounding areas west of Fonthill during the Victoria Day Long Weekend on Sunday, May 20th. This historic race is one of the most popular on the Ontario Cycling Association’s (OCA) calendar with over 400 riders regularly competing.

The 12.3 km narrow road circuit takes the riders through a windy and hilly venture through rural farmland and a picturesque landscape. The main feature of the course is the steep hill climb of Saylor’s Hill that offers a magnificent view of the Niagara escarpment once at the top of the hill. Saylor’s Hill serves as the finishing straight that, in the past, can make or break a racer’s hopes of tasting success. It is also the perfect setting for spectators to see the racers come up the hill as they battle for position as they cross the finish line.

Riders that are new to the sport of cycling are encouraged to register and race in the Sportif Category. This is an entry level category that allows the average rider to experience our O-Cup Road Races without having to purchase a full licence. If you are not yet a licenced member of the OCA, we encourage you to join the St. Catharine’s Cycling Club (or your local OCA club), or visit www.ontariocycling.org to purchase a membership.

For OCA road racing veterans, this race takes place on a very challenging course that will test your skills and fitness. Some sections provide strong head winds and other parts of the course will produce solid cross winds. This race is pre-registration only and closes on Thursday, May 17th at Midnight. If you are interested in racing in the Niagara Classic, please visit the “Event Registration” section the OCA website.

The 14th Annual Niagara Classic is sure to be one of the more memorable O-Cup Road Races for the year, so get on your bikes to the racing event you won’t want to miss.